Breakout Sessions

There’s a lot riding on the beginning of your story. You need to open with a compelling hook to win your reader. The same goes for the end: surprise and delight with a memorable close. Easier said than done. In this session, we'll talk about how to close your book on a surprise end that feels gratifying and real. Then, we reverse engineer to craft the beginning to deliver a terrific first line and a story roadmap by introducing the main character (who), the main conflict (what), their motivation (why), the setting (where and when), and a promise of change that will happen over the course of the story (how). But most importantly, we'll talk about how to pace the beginning—and the end—to keep the reader engaged with the story long after they close the book.

A behind-the-scenes session on traditional illustration for a published book with Union Square Kids from start to finish. A brief introduction to how the book was acquired and my work for the submission process. I’ll then describe the process of how I work with the house including pre-project questions including deadlines/timing; working with the manuscript, art directors, and editors; character exploration and consistency; backgrounds; final artwork creation and delivery; color proofs; to final book. I wish for this session to shed light on everything an illustrator considers and works on during a full 40-page book illustration project, including casewrap and jacket artwork, with a focus on traditional media.

With the uncertainty around social media and the unpredictability of its algorithms, more creators are hearing the advice to start a newsletter. In this presentation, three Bay Area creators who are in different stages of their creative careers will share their unique approaches to their newsletters. They will also share their decision-making processes and prompt attendees to brainstorm ideas for their own potential newsletters. They will address: WHAT is an author/illustrator newsletter and what can it be about? WHY bother creating one and why do people read them? WHO is your target audience? WHEN should you start and how often should you publish? WHERE can you post/host the newsletter? HOW do you get started creating one?

From biographies of important people to STEAM topics, learn how to select, research, and write engaging, informative nonfiction picture books and chapter books. Think ahead to your pitch to editors--the hook, the book, and the cook-- as well as school visit presentations. There will be time for tips, turn and talk sharing of ideas, and to put pen to paper.

Regional team members and volunteers will lead several short, fun, guided activities designed to foster informal creative connections among presenters, regional team members, mentors, critique partners, and all attendees. Each activity will be presented in a separate dedicated space, and there will be a separate quiet room for personal reflection without guided activity. Choose the activity that will best recharge your creativity. Connect with other participants you’d like to spend time with throughout the conference (and beyond!). Additional opportunities for informal connection will be presented at topic-specific lunch tables, and day-long interactive spaces.

Creative people usually have lots of ideas, but every idea takes time and dedication to bring to life. And time is the one thing that everyone has in short supply. No one wants to waste their efforts on an idea that won't work out. So how do you decide what the RIGHT idea is to devote yourself to? In this panel, an author, an agent, and a publisher will each explain to the audience, and each other, what they look for in a project before they commit to saying "Yes."

We’ll cover artist discovery (where we find new artists), artist selection (the kinds of things we think about), and art direction (executing on vision), highlighting fun case studies that showcase the value of collaboration between art director and editor, and author and illustrator, to create text and illustration that feels integrated, and in sync.

First person, third person limited, omniscient? Should your story have one main character, or multiple POVs throughout and how do you determine which character should be telling your story in any given scene? Learn how to warm up your narrative to avoid the chilling effect of POV filtering, as well as other techniques to master the art of POV.

Families, careers, and publishing—oh my! Juggling all three can be an immense challenge, and as creatives, we’re supposed to maintain that spark of creativity at the same time life throws us lemons—or are we? In this panel discussion, five authors & illustrators will peel back their curtains and share personal stories and experiences around what’s worked for them (and what hasn’t!) as they manage family obligations, professional careers, and their own creative wells in pursuit of ambitious publishing goals.

While a picture book can be created by one person, many are collaborations. How does that work? You may be surprised to learn that publishers usually choose which authors and illustrators to pair, and then they keep them separate during the work. Why? In this panel, delve into the mystery of picture book collaboration. If you’re an author, can you ever give notes to an illustrator? If you’re an illustrator, what notes do you want? Can illustrators ever ask authors to change their words? How about vice versa? Learn about the mistakes and magic that can happen when authors and illustrators work alone to create picture books together.

There are no straight lines from A to B—but if you want to make anything, you have to start by making something. In this presentation, Bobby Podesta will share his journey from signing up for an after-work writing class ten years ago to having his debut graphic novel released by a leading publisher. He’ll explore the surprising parallels between his work at a major animation studio and the creative process behind writing his first book. Along the way, Bobby will offer insights, lessons learned, and practical advice. His goal is for participants to walk away with ingredients they can apply to their own creative paths toward publication.

I'll show members how I use mentor texts. Show theme how to break down and identify techniques like repetition, use of onomatopoeia, and the like to create emotionally resonating stories. I will share how I analyze each book and how I decide which elements I like and apply to my own work. Members will walk away with ways to select books that are similar or different from their own work, but can help them tell a better story.

From draft to delivery, discover a self-publishing process that fosters flexible efficiency and creative collaboration. Process=Power! Framework=Freedom!

In the crowded field of picture books, how do you stand out (and get to yes) with a submission? What excites an agent or acquiring editor, and what common mistakes contribute to what leads to a quick no?

An agent must sift through hundreds, even thousands of queries. Learn what makes an effective query letter and how to write a compelling opening for your sample pages. We will discuss how to write a grabby opening while avoiding the dreaded white room and its evil twin, the cliffhanger.

Join two award-winning kidlit authors as they interview each other about stepping outside of what they usually write—Meera Sriram is a picture book author tackling novels and novel-in-verse, while Mae Respicio is a middle grade novelist taking on the challenge of picture books. This lively conversation will offer practical tips for getting started in a new format, reveal which craft skills transfer across novels and picture books, and embrace the creative challenges, new discoveries, and unexpected joys that come with expanding your creative range. If you’re ready to explore new writing and refresh your creativity, this session will give you the spark to dive in!

Children’s literature should speak to–and reflect–the real hopes, dreams, and experiences of all children. A time when even the concept of inclusion seems under attack is an even more important moment to share, to encourage, and to promote authentic stories representing all children, not just the privileged. We still want to see those stories and encourage you to keep sharing them with us.

Most writers are terrible at pitching their books–if we could have reduced it to a few syllables, it would be a haiku, not a novel. But a logline description is the key way that everyone–agents, editors, sales team, retailers, book buyers–can understand your book and see that it tells a compelling story with wants and stakes. Industry professionals will share how you can sharpen your storytelling and convey it in a concise, compelling way.

School visits can be both exciting and overwhelming—especially for authors and illustrators who may feel shy, introverted, or anxious presenting in front of a crowd. Natasha Yim will help you approach and modify school visits in a way that fits your comfort level, and transforms your anxiety into confidence, while Nadia Salomon will provide strategies on crafting interactive signature presentations that feel authentic and engage students. Through practical strategies, gentle mindset shifts, and interactive tips, you’ll learn how to: • Manage stage fright and anxiety before and during visits • Engage young audiences without draining your energy • Build presentations that suit your personality and strengths • Set boundaries and practice self-care around school events Whether you’re brand new to school visits or looking to make them feel less stressful and more rewarding, this session will help you step into the spotlight with confidence and joy.

There are right ways–and especially wrong ways–to do almost everything. Writers and illustrators looking for agents or on submission often have a hard time getting to a yes. Industry professionals on our panel will share best practices (and some worst practices to avoid.)

Some of us write words. Some create images. Our panelists of author/illustrators will share their creative journeys–and what they’ve learned along the way–on how they successfully managed to do both in their published works.